Embracing Cultures

By: Juliana Gutierrez

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”

- Saint Augustine

     Certainly, St. Augustine could not have said it better. Viewing stunning sights, savoring unexpected new flavors, filling your lungs with a deep inhale of air, and experiencing all that a place has to offer are only a few of the reasons why I think that traveling is a way to revival the soul and embrace the fascinating and multicultural world we live in. Traveling is not just about getting to a destination. It is about the experiences one encounters and the people that take part in the journey what make each trip an irreplaceable one.

     Throughout my 23 years of age, I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to over 15 different countries in three continents. It was my father who taught me the value of traveling, not just stopping by in a city for a daytrip, but to come in contact with its people, understand their culture, appreciate their traditions and respect them for their beliefs.

With this realization in mind and my background as a journalist, I believe that the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico and to be in direct contact with Boricuas, will allow me to enhance my knowledge of how the media can change from one country to another and how it can influence society depending on its customs.

     Lastly, the experience on the island combined with the academic 
lessons will set the ideal tools to learn how to use mass media and journalistic techniques in order to portray the uniqueness of a nation with a trustworthy and authentic sense to a faraway audience, making them feel as if they were there, walking around old San Juan or contemplating the turquoise waters of the Caribbean while dipping their toes in Puerto Rico’s golden sand.

Photo by: Juliana Gutierrez

Photo by: Juliana Gutierrez

For more information about Puerto Rico, visit: http://www.seepuertorico.com

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/puerto-rico

Puerto Rico!!!! "The Island of Enchantment"

Puerto Rico!!!! "The Island of Enchantment"

By Adam Pinkney

photo by Adam Pinkney

Hola! My name is Adam Pinkney and I am a broadcasting and electronic media graduate student at the University of Oklahoma. I have the opportunity to take two travel-writing classes through OU in Puerto Rico. I will document my experience in Puerto Rico in various ways. In addition to writing about my experiences, I will also illustrate them with pictures, video, and sound as I explore the island of enchantment. Below I have explained why I was interested in taking these courses.

I am very interested in the travel-writing course in Puerto Rico. I have always wanted to study abroad in some form or fashion. This is a perfect opportunity for me to travel abroad and experience a world outside of Oklahoma. I am willing to open up my eyes and mind to a new culture. These two classes would definitely help to fulfill graduate credit. However to me this opportunity is worth more than credit. It is worth an experience that I could not trade for anything else. It is a challenge for me to venture out and learn new things about other cultures. I am up for a good challenge and ready for the life of Puerto Rico.

I love learning new things and the Hispanic culture has always been of interest to me. I took Spanish as a foreign language in High school and College. So I know the basics of Spanish and structure, but definitely not fluent in the language. One funny memory that comes to mind is that many people believe that I am Hispanic because of my skin color. So now I will get to experience true Hispanic culture on the island of Puerto Rico.